A Journey to Victorious Praying: Finding Discipline and Delight in Your Prayer Life

Why is it so hard to pray?

It’s something many Christians can relate to: the desire to pray but the failure to execute. A Journey to Victorious Praying will tell readers why this is—and how to move past it.

Addressing common misconceptions about prayer, then offering biblical truths and practices instead, Bill Thrasher teaches readers how to:


Honestly share their desires with God
Turn temptations into victorious prayers
Experience the Spirit’s motivation in prayer
Get help when they don’t know how to pray
Implement fasting into their prayer life
Move from anxiety to peace
And more

Filled with practical insight and pastoral warmth, this book will give readers renewed enthusiasm for embarking on the essential journey of prayer. And its brief chapters, organized around various themes, make it perfect for quick reference, as does the appendix with tips for stimulating prayer.

My thoughts: I picked this book up, since I figured I could use some help in being more consistent with my prayer life. I was delightfully surprised at how helpful this book wound up being! It is a wonderful manual that points back to the all time best manual on praying and life and general, the Bible. I enjoyed the blend of scriptures and testimonies in this book, which made it hard for me to put down. I highly recommend this thought provoking book.
I received this book from Moody in exchange for my honest review.

The Essential Guide to Prayer

Life-Changing Teaching on Prayer from One of the Topic's Leading Authors

Based on years of ministry and experience, international prayer leader and bestselling author Dutch Sheets presents a real-world, hands-on foundation for prayer. With wisdom and practical insight, he helps you develop the core of an effective prayer life: a stronger, lasting relationship with God as Father and friend. He also shows you how to:
· make prayer a vital part of your life
· pray alone and in groups
· persist in prayer until you see God's answers
· become a powerful intercessor for those you love
· and more!

He even includes questions at the end of each chapter to help you immediately implement what you're learning.

"This book is really for all prayer warriors, whether just beginning or advanced."--Cindy Jacobs

My thoughts: I feel like the first title for this book, The Beginner's Guide to Prayer was probably a bit more fitting, since the book goes over prayer by intercession, how to pray for others or for others to pray for you. The stories from his personal ministry and life were interesting, though some of them felt a bit like rabbit trails. Over all, it was an easy read and had some interesting points, but I wouldn't agree that it is the essential guide to prayer.
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Talking With God

Life is crazy. Prayer is simple.
Prayer seems like it should be so simple. Yet, when it comes to actually praying, often it feels awkward and complicated.
I mean ... what should you actually pray about? What do you say?
Is there anything you should or shouldn t say? Do you have to speak out loud? Where do you even start?
To make matters worse, we ve heard about prayer for so longthatwefeel awkward asking about it. It s like having to ask a person s name after knowing them for years. Becausewereallyshould know their name by now, we feel embarrassed toask.
Then comes the reality and craziness of life. Between work, changing diapers, walking the dog, a full inbox, trying to keep up with our neighbors and the laundry, who has time to pray?
The truth is, prayer is simple.
It s like talking. Talking with a good friend. And what we may not know is the best part: no matter where we are in life, God can t wait to talk with us.
What does it look like to pray in the midst of your life?
What do you say when you don t know how to pray?
I m asking the same questions.
Let s talk."

My thoughts: It seems like my focus for this year in my non fiction reading has been prayer, since the women's group I am in at church is doing the Draw the Circle devotional that is 40 days of prayer (which, is a wonderful devotional and a great way to start the new year, but I digress!). This is an excellent book to accompany the others that I have been reading. I appreciate how easy this one is to get through and that Adam is so very open about the questions he has had and the storms his faith has weathered. This book is engaging and excellent!
I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Pray A to Z

Pray A-Z: A Practical Guide to Praying for Your Community will help you topically organize your prayer requests and lay the burdens of your community at the feet of our Heavenly Father. Whether you are praying for a friend’s adoption journey, a neighbor’s bankruptcy, or a family member’s cancer, this book will give you Bible verses, prayer prompts, and prayer starts to guide you through praying for even the most difficult issues that affect the people you know and love. Perfect for either individual or group prayer, Pray A-Z will help you experience the peace that comes from communicating with God.

My thoughts: I loved this fresh perspective on praying for your community! It's easy to tell people that they should be praying more, but this book is a great resource that will give you ideas on what to pray for. I love that it is set up so that it can be used as a devotional, giving you a subject for each day. Or, you can take more than one per day! I never thought to pray for some of the things in this book, like for the homeless or those who are grieving. This book also served as a good reminder for me to be praying for things like the marriages of those around me or law enforcement.
All around, this is an excellent book for one to do alone, but would also be great to do as a group.
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

While My Child is Away

Parents and children are separated for many reasons: divorce, school, camp, even work. It might be for just a few days or indefinitely. These prayers give voice to all that you are hoping for your child when you can’t be the one to meet their needs. Prayers of blessings, protection, instruction and grace. Or prayers for those around your child to choose wisely, see their needs, and love them as you would. Prayers for friends, teachers, coaches and mentors to step in and fill every need. Knowing that a loving Father God is caring for your child, even when you can’t, gives you the peace and assurance that all will be well.

My thoughts: I like how this book is set up! Each chapter starts with several prayers that give parents ideas of what to pray for over their children at all different stages. I like that Edie shares a lot of personal stories and experiences, before summing the chapter up in a few key thoughts. She has so many wonderful ideas in this book! I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would. Especially the reminder to live in the moment. Being a mother is crazy, but we only have our little ones for a short time before they fly the nest.
I received this book from Worthy publisher in exchange for my honest review.

365 Pocket Morning Prayers

Each morning when you arise, take a moment to talk with God about the day ahead. Ask Him to prepare your heart so that you can be ready to face any challenge that comes your way. 365 Pocket Morning Prayers can guide this time of life-changing conversation and help you express your needs and concerns to God. Don’t worry about what the day will bring. Instead, release your troubles and concerns into God’s care by reading and meditating on the prayers featured in 365 Pocket Morning Prayers. Begin your day in joyful anticipation, trusting that God is in control of your life and wants only the best for you.

My thoughts: This book is the perfect way to get your mornings started right by focusing on a prayer for the day. I love the variety of topics that it covers, praying for church leaders, mentors, second chances, truth, etc. It is an excellent little book to have by one's bed, so it is easy to grab in the morning. I love that it is small and compact, so it would fit nicely in a purse, scripture bag, or backpack. It would also make an excellent gift!
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Gratitude

Gratitude: A Prayer and Praise Coloring Journal invites you to bring creative journaling and the calming act of coloring into your quiet time with God. This beautifully designed interactive prayer book helps guide your thoughts as you pray about concerns. Gratitude gives you a way to celebrate and give thanks to God for the many blessings he provides. Filled with over 100 designs to color, plenty of space for journaling and sketching, and 40 needs-based prayers, Gratitude helps you express your devotion to God with your whole heart! Special Features:

Lay-flat hardcover and thick paper
Hardcover with embossed cover design
Illustrated by Felicity French

My thoughts: When I saw this book, a combination of an adult coloring book and a prayer and praise journal, I just had to jump at the chance to review it! I have enjoyed journaling since I was a teen, and I love coloring books (my husband teases me that I pull out my daughter's coloring books more for me than her.;) I suppose it is only fair that she wants me to share this one!), so this is the perfect combination for me! I love the coloring pages and how the journal side of things gets one to think about specific things you are grateful for. I love focusing on the question for the set of pages while I color! This book would make the perfect gift for Christmas!
I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Pocket of Prayers

Bestselling author Max Lucado has teamed up with six authors to write the Pocket Prayers series for those in need of peace, renewal, rest, faith, hope, joy, direction, serenity, and courage.

Short, simple prayers are very effective, which is why each book in the series contains forty guided prayers and complementary scriptures for any situation, including for:

—Moms (written with daughter Andrea Lucado)
—Grads (written with daughter Andrea Lucado)
—Dads (written with Mark Mynheir)
—Military Life (written with Mark Mynheir)
—Teachers (written with blogger Jennifer Hale)
—Friends (written with Betsy St. Amant)

My thoughts: I love how these books spark ideas on how to pray more focused prayers! I would say that I gleaned the most from the one for moms, with the current stage I am in of raising littles, but I also enjoyed the other books and reading through the prayers. These books are great to place by one's bed or with your Bible. I love that they are so cute and make the perfect gift! I can think of quite a few people I will have to give copies too.;) I also think that they would be a great addition to a study group when talking about prayer.
I received these books from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.

When we were sent these books, the publisher requested that we give them away and feature one of those recipients on our blog post. While it was fun to give them all away, I think I had the easiest time finding a home for the one for Moms. I wound up giving it to a friend who is a fairly new mother, since I thought that the prayers were so encouraging!

An Insider's Guide to Praying for the World

Nothing fuels prayer like seeing a need with your own eyes. Journey with Brian Stiller as he gathers firsthand information and prayer requests direct from Christians around the world. Filled with stories of faith and risk, tragedy and hope, An Insider's Guid to Praying for the World will help you intercede with greater focus and understanding all while learning about other lands. An ideal resource for prayer and study groups, too.

My thoughts: If you are looking to add a breath of fresh air to your prayer life, then this is an excellent place to start! (it's also a great resource if you are looking for more direction in your prayers past your nation) I enjoyed reading the chapters on each nation that is featured, since they include a bit about the country and where it is located, a personal story, scripture reading, and item(s) to pray for. I appreciated the personal aspect, since it helps the reader to connect. I also appreciated that there are chapters on praying for different ministries or specific issues, like those persecuted. This book is an excellent resource!
I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

Reaching Your Prodigal

Prodigals come in many forms. We often think of the defiant ones as prodigals, but there are other types that break our hearts: embarrassing, intellectual, lukewarm, and religious prodigals. The word prodigal means "wasted." Like the younger son in Jesus' parable, many of our loved ones are wasting their lives. Learn how to love them no matter what form of "wasted" they choose.

My thoughts: This is an excellent book! I love how this book offers a message of hope for parents or loved ones dealing with a prodigal. I like that Phil Waldrep gets to the heart of the issues that families deal with when a loved one strays from what they are taught, whether it is a parent, grandparent, or sibling. I also like that he makes some wonderful points about the guilt one might feel and how people have their own agency, though it is good to uncover past hurts and ask for forgiveness. This book is excellent to read on your own or with a study group, since there is plenty to think over or discuss.
I received this book from Worthy in exchange for my honest review.

Called to Pray

Most of us have felt it: that unexplained prompting in our hearts to stop and pray for a friend, a loved one, or even a stranger. Sometimes we dismiss the feeling as a stray thought about friends, families, or situations. Sometimes we are even awakened from a deep sleep with an even deeper need to go to God in prayer. Where do those urges come from? Are they truly from God? And do those prayers have any effect on the one we're praying for?

In Called to Pray, Linda Evans Shepherd shares dozens of inspiring true stories of people who have felt God's call to pray--and the astonishing results of those impromptu prayers. For those who wonder if prayer has any effect or doubt that God communicates with us personally, this heart-stirring book will amaze, inspire, and equip them to respond to those holy promptings.

My thoughts: This is an excellent book on what happens when people pray for people who God has put on their hearts. I was so encouraged by the stories included in this book, since they reminded me to head that still small voice when it whispers to pray for someone or to go visit a friend or acquaintance. I highly recommend picking up this book if you are in need of encouragement!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Proverbs Prayers

One of the most popular books of the Bible, Proverbs offers practical guidance for life and the tools to make good choices, withstand pressure, prioritize relationships, and avoid unnecessary trouble. In these pages, John Mason helps readers make God's wisdom a part of their inner lives, offering each chapter from Proverbs followed by a heartfelt prayer that covers the insights from that chapter. In thirty-one days, readers can pray all of the wisdom of Proverbs for their lives, experiencing God's wisdom as never before and finding encouragement, peace, answers, and a better life

My thoughts: What a neat little book! I love that each chapter is a prayer that goes along with each chapter of Proverbs. It is a neat idea to use in personal study or to do with a Bible study (perhaps to accompany a study of Proverbs). I like that Proverbs 31 has two prayers with it, one for women and one for men.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.